Sheet feeder



Sept 3 1946- n c. w, HARROLD 2906,76

SHEET FEEDER Filed May 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fie/4 INVENTOR. (mais PMA/maag BY #mwywf M14 Sept- 3, 1946 Ac. w. HARoL-D l 2,406,766

SHEET FEEDER Filed May 5, 1944 2 v:sheets-smet 2 INVENTOR. F/e. 'f2

L /2 y By CMGLES n( Hafen@ /76. f3 44@ www 635m,

Patented sept. 3, 1946 SHEET FEEDER n Charles W. Harrold, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Harris-Seybold Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1944, Serial No. 534,264

24 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in sheet feeders, more particularly feeders for paper sheets embodying a suction head for gripping a transverse edge of each sheetl and separating it from the supply, and in certain aspects of the invention advancing it by movement of the suction head.

More specifically the invention relates to the provision of a method and means for preliminarily separating the upper sheets of the pile, preferably by a fluiiing air blast, gripping the topmost sheet while it is thus elevated and without permitting the sucker head to descend to or rest upon the pile, forming in the gripped edge of the sheet simultaneously with the gripping action a l localized corrugation or corrugations, and there# after curving the sheet transversely to the corrugations and advancing it by movement of the sucker head. The formation of the corrugations provides one or more paths for the flow of air from the fluing blast or blasts, thereby furthering the separation of the topmost sheet from the one next beneath, and also imparts added stiffness to the sheet, especially when a rolling up sucker head is employed.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of improved sheet separating means.

Another object is the formation of corrugations in the sheet by the use of flexible suckers spaced transversely a distance less than the width of one of them.

Still another object is the provision of one or more fixed abutments cooperating with'one or more suckers for imparting localized corrugations to the sheets.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are diagrammatic Views of the invention showing the parts in a series of three positions, that is (l) where the sheet is first taken by the sucker head, (2) where it is rolled up by the suckerhead without disturbing the forward edge of the sheet, and (3) where it is being advanced by the unrolling of its rolled up rear edge.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational View of the suckerV4 head and its mounting, shown in position above a pile of sheets which have been uifed, the sucker head being in a position for taking a sheet but the suction being not yet applied.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the sucker head. Fig. 6 is a fragmental, elevational view, corre- 2 sponding to Fig. 4, after the suction has been applied.

Fig. 'i is a rear elevational view after the sheet has been rolled up.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a View corresponding a modified form of sucker head.

Figs. 10 and l1 are side and rear views, respectively, of another modification of the sucker head.

Figs. 12 and 13 are side and rear views, respectively, of still another form of sucker head, Fig. 12 being shown largely in section on the line I 2-'I2 of Fig. 13.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 446,477, filed June 10, 1942, to whichv reference may be had for a complete disclosure of the operating mechanism and general features of the machine.

The sequence of operations illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is somewhat as follows:

A pair of fiuing air blast nozzles I0 with vertical slot mouths disposed on opposite sides of the sucker head II are caused to discharge air which preliminarily separates the uppermost sheets at the rear edge of the pile I2 and raises them. While this uing action is going on the front edges of the sheet are held against forward clisplacement by front pile guides I3. The sucker head II, either before or after the blast from nozzles I0 is turned on, comes into the position illustrated in Fig. l where it is in contact with the topmost iiuifed sheet. Suction is then exerted and the topmost sheet is gripped, after which the fluing blasts are turned off. Next the axis I4 of the sucker head swings forward, and at the same time gears I5 and I6 turn to rotate the sucker head on its axis, so that the sheet gripping means will travel in a substantially epicycloidal path. The parts may be so dimensioned that this is accomplished without disturbing the forward portion of the sheet. Alternatively the dimensions may be such as to produce a small rearward motion of the sheet during the rolling up action.

While the sucker head is moving from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2 a combination presser foot and air blast nozzle I'I disposed behind the middle of the sucker head, moves diagonally forward and downward to a position above the rear edge of the pile and then vertically downward onto the pile, compressing the previously uffed sheets beneath the topmost one, S. The blast through presser foot I'I is then turned on to iioat the sheet S, as indicated in Fig. 2.

rto Fig. 6, showing corresponding to Next the front guides I3 are swung forward and downward out of the way, as indicated in Fig. 3, and gear sector I8 is turned while axis I4 of the sucker head remains in the same position as in Fig. 2, with the result that the gears I and I6 rotate the sucker head about its axis from the position of Fig. 2 to one slightly in advance of that of Fig. 3, thereby forwarding the front edge of the sheet on to an endless carrier belt I9 and between pull-out rolls and 2|. As soon as the forward edge of the sheet is thus controlled and it becomes a part of the stream of sheets on the conveyor, suction in the sucker head is interrupted and the latter moves rearwardly to the position of Fig. 1 for operation upon the next sheet.

Describing now the particular mechanism illustrated for imparting to the sucker head the movements above described, is a bracket in which is carried a stud 26 having a reduced threaded part 21 extending through a hole in the bracket and held in position by a nut 2S. On this stud two hubs 29 and 30 are mounted for oscillation independently of each other. Hub 29 carries an arm 3| in the extremity of which there is bored a hole 32 for the reception of a hollow stud 33, the bore 34 of which is closed at one end by a plug 35 in a head 36. The opposite end of hollow stud 33 may have a exible hose 31 connected therewith leading to the vacuum side of an air pump, not shown. When the stud is in place it is held against motion in arm 3l by means of a set screw 38' or the like.

Stud 33 has a lateral port 39 which communicates with an annular recess in a sleeve 4I which surrounds stud 33 and' is rotatable thereupon. A longitudinal pocket 42 in the sleeve intersects annular recess 40, so that this pocket is constantly in communication with the bore 34. Sleeve 4| carries the spur gear l5, previously mentioned, which meshes with gear IB, also previously mentioned. Gear I6' is carried by arm 3|, having a fixed bearing upon that arm. For example, it may turn freely upon a stud 43 having a head 44 engaging one face of the gear, and a nut 45V for locking the stud in position. Gear I6 in turn meshes with gear sector I9 previously mentioned, which is rigid with hub 30.

Suitable means are provided for oscillating hubs 29 and 3i) upon their bearing stud 26 in properly timed sequence, this means comprising cams, not shown, rotating once for each sheet fed, as fully disclosed in the above mentioned copending application. Motion from the said cams may be communicated by suitable levers to links 46 and 41 that are pivotally connected with armV 48 and sector I8 projecting from hubs 29 and 30 respectively.

The sucker head Il has a bore therethrough tting over sleeve 4I.l It also has radial passages 50 and 5i communicating with its central bore. It is held in proper position both longitudinally and angularly, to cause passages 50 and 5I to communicate with pocket 42, by means of a screw 52 which extends through a threaded hole in the head and' into a socket in sleeve 4I. The head may be removed and interchanged with another one by merely loosening screw 52. The head is counterbored around passages 50 and 5I and an annular recess 53 is formed in the head inwardly of each counterbore. Rubber or other resilient suckers 54 are formed with annular flanges to snap into the recess 53, by which means the suckers are held against accidental displacement but are readily removed and replaced when necessary. The passages 50 and 5I are so spaced apart that when the suckers 54 are in place they are separated from each other by a distance no greater than the diameter of the suckers, this relationship having an important bearing upon the functioning of the device.

Midway between the passages 59 and 5l and in the same plane therewith I provide a threaded opening for the reception of a roundheaded screw 55, hereinafter sometimes called an abutment. This screw is adjusted so as to project any required distance from the periphery ci the sucker head, and is held in position by means of a set screw 56:. Ordinarily, screw 55 is set to project from the head as far as, or slightiy further than, the suckers 54v before suction is made eiective. After suction'is applied the suckers contract axially, increasing the distance which the screw 55 projects beyond them. A pair of cheeks 53 having circular curvature on approximately the same radius as the effective radius of the suckers, together constitute a body for imparting a predetermined curvature to the rear portion of the sheet as it is rolled up.

In Fig. 4 the uppermost sheets of the pile are shown iiuffed up and contacting suckers 54 and abutment 55 before the vacuum is on. In Fig. 6 the vacuum is on'and the suckers are contracted axially and expanded laterally.Y Also, because of their high degree of resilience they have adjusted themselves to the curvature of the top sheet produced by suction on either side of the abutment. As herein indicated thereare distinct corrugations in the sheet, running in the fore and aft direction, that is to say, at right angles to the axis of the sucker head, and as illustrated at right angles to the rear edge of the sheet. These corrugations are localized, that is they occupy relatively small portions of the length of that edge of the sheet in which they are formed. When the sheet has been thus gripped, as in Figs. 1 and 6, hub 29 is turned clockwise from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2, hub 36 remaining xed. Pinion I6, running upon sector I9, is thereby turned on its stud 43 in the clockwise direction and gear I5 is turned in the counterclockwise direction, so that the sheet is rolled up as shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe parts may be so designed, that the body of the sheet, including its front edge, is undisturbed, or so that the sheet is pulled back slightly, This rolled up condition of the sheet is illustrated in Figs. '1 and 8.

A modified form of sucker head is illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein the head II instead of having two suckers disposed upon opposite sides of an abutment, has two abutment screws 66 disposed on opposite sides of a sucker 6I. Screws 63 are held in adjusted position by set screws E2. In this case also a corrugation or corrugations are formed in the top sheet when the vacuum comes Another modified form is shown in Figs. l0 and 11, where the sucker head 63 is an all metal head having two sets of ports 64, three in each set, with an abutment 65 between the sets. Here the effect, when suction is on, is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6.

Still another form of head Figs. 12 and 13. In this case also the head 66 is all metal'. It has three equally spaced abutments 61, 68 and with a sucker 10 between the center abutment 68 and each of the side abutments 61 and 59. The suckers 1i) are telescoping suckers and comprise cylindrical plungers 1I biased outwardly by means of springs 12. Be-

is illustrated in fore suction is applied, the suckers 10 may extend outwardly further'than the abutments 61, 68 and 69, but as soon as suction is applied, and the sucker ports are closed'iby contact with a sheet, the plungers move inwardly against the action of springs l2 until stopped by contactv with end wall-13, at'which time they will be in the' position illustrated in Fig. 13. Here the effectis substantially double that in Fig. 9.

yWhena pair of flexible suckers is spaced substantially as illustrated herein, that is, by a distance nogreater than the diameter of one of them,V the vacuum exerted through each sucker tends to form in the sheet at that point what may be termed a circular blister, but if the suckers are close enough together the exing of each one is modified by the flexingof the other,'with the result that these blisters are converted into a corrugation or corrugations extending at right angles to the adjacent edge of the sheet. While a corrugated contour formed in this way is very beneficial, the effect is considerably accentuated by the interposition between the suckers of a fixed abutment in accordance with the preferred forms of the invention, or by the use of tWo fixed abutments, one on either side of a sucker.

As previously explained,the corrugations provide definite paths for flow of flufling air under the top sheet and well into the body of the sheet, which improves 'the preliminary'separation of the top sheet from the one next below, but the corrugations also contribute stiffness to the rear edge of the sheet and do not interfere with the rolling up of that edge. In fact, the combined effect of corrugating and rolling up results in superior Vseparation of sheets and gives great stability to the gripped edge of the sheet, so that the sucker head maintains excellent control of the sheet while the sheet is being unrolled fory forwarding purposes, and while the blast is effective.

A single sucker head of the type herein disclosed is very efficient for the separation and feeding of vsmall and medium sized sheets, but for large Vsheets it is desirable to employ two or more sucker heads with accompanying air blasts, suitably distributed across the wid-th of the pile;

Having thus described my invention, I clai-m:

forwarding 1. The method ofseparating sheets from the top of a supply comprising gripping the topmost sheet by suction near an edge thereof, forming localized corrugations perpendicular yto the edge portion of the sheet inthe region of said Agripped portion, and moving the gripped portion to form a curved contour in the sheet extending in a direction parallel to said edge.V

2. The method of separating sheets Vfrom the top of a supply comprising gripping .the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge, forming localized corrugations perpendicular tothe edge of the sheet in the region of the gripped portion, raising and tilting the gripped portion to form in the portion of the sheet directly in front of said gripped portion an upwardly curved contour extending in a direction parallel to said rear edge, and blowing air forwardly under the curved up sheet.

3. The method of separating sheets from the top of a supply comprising preliminarily separating an edge portion of the upper sheets of the supply, lthereby elevating the topmost sheet of the supply, gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its preliminary separated and raised edge while said edge remains thus raised, pressing on "the topmost sheet at ay Apoint adjacent to the gripped portion thereby forming localized corrugations in the topmost sheet perpendicular to said edge and holding the second sheet away from the sheet gripper, and moving the gripped portion to form a curved contour in the sheet extending in a direction parallel to said edge.

Vfi. The method of separating sheets from the top of a supply comprising preliminarily separating an edge portion of .the upper sheets of the supply, thereby elevating a, -plurality of the upper sheets of the supply, pressing on the topmost sheet with force insuflicient to fully compress the preliminarily separated sheets, gripping .the topmost sheet by suction adjacent to the pressing point and lifting the gripped portion above the level of the pressing point while said preliminary separating action continues, and simultaneously raising and tilting the gripped portion in a direction perpendicular to said edge.

5. The method of separatmg and feeding sheets from the top of a pile comprising pneumatically fluifing a rear edge .portion of the upper sheets of .the pile, gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge while the pile is fluifed and simultaneously forming localized corru-gations in said topmost sheet in the region of its gripped portion, raising and tilting said gripped portion and simultaneously rolling up the portion of the sheet while thus corrugated directly in front of said gripped portion around a curved body, blowing air forwardly under the rolled up sheet, holding the next sheet against forward movement, and moving the topmost sheet forwardly along the top of said pile. i

6. Y'The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a pile comprising pneumatically uing the rear edge portion of the upper sheets ksaid pile.

of the pile, gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge while the pile is fluffed and simultaneously forming localized corrugations in said topmost sheet in the region of the gripped portion, raising .and .tilting said gripped portion and simultaneously rolling up the portion of the sheet directly in front of said gripped portion around a curved body, maintaining said corrugations in the sheet during at least a part of said raising and tilting movement, blowing air forwardlyunder the rolled up sheet, holding the next sheet against Vforward movement, and moving the topmost sheet forward along the top -of 7. k'l'he method of separating and feeding sheets from the .'top of a pile comprising pneumatically fluflinga `rear edge portion of the upper sheets of the pile, gripping the ,topmost sheet by suction near itsrear edge while the pile is fluffed and simultaneously forming localized corrugations against forward movement, andv unrolling the rolled up portion lof the sheet to move the sheet forwardly along the top of the pile.

8. The method claimed in the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said corrugations are maintained in the sheet during said rolling up and unrolling movements.

9. In mechanism for separating the topmost sheet of a supply, a pair of movable flexible suckers spaced apart less than the width of one of them, vand adapted simultaneously to grip said closely spaced movable flexible suckers 'arranged in transverse alignment to grip a sheet near` its edge and impart a wavy contour thereto, means for causing said suckers t grip a sheet and to move the gripped portion thereof, and a curved body adjacent said suckers and movable there with, adapted to contact a gripped sheet to form a curve therein.

11. A sheet separating suction device comprising a suction head having a plurality of sheet corrugating elements mounted therein, including suction gripper means and rigid abutment means, a means of one kind vbeing arranged on .each side of a means of the other kind, whereby corrugations in a sheet are positively formed said suction head presenting a clear path for air at right angles to the adjacent edge of the sheet and in line with said suction gripper means.

12. A device as claimed in the preceding claim including means for adjusting the relative level of said gripper means and said abutment means.

13. A sheet separating suction device comprising a revoluble suction head, a pair of exible suckers mounted therein, and an abutment mounted in said head between said suckers arranged to contact and displace a portion of a sheet held by said suckers, thereby forming corrugations in the sheet which remain therein while the head is being revolved.

14. |A device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said flexible suckers are spaced apart less than the width of'one of them.

15. A sheet separating suction device comprising a suction head, a exible sucker mounted therein, and two abutments mounted in said head,

-one on each of the opposite sides of said sucker,

arranged to Contact and displace a portion of a `sheet held by said sucker said suction head presenting a clear path for air in line with said sucker at right angles to the line connecting said abutments whereby a corrugation is formed in the sheet through which flufling air may be blown.

16. In mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, a revoluble suction head mounted for movement in the direction of feed, a flexible sucker mounted therein adapted to grip a sheet near its rear edge, an abutment arranged adjacent said sucker laterally of-said direction of feed and adapted in conjunction with said sucker to form in a Vgripped sheet a localized corrugation extending in the direction of feed, the axis of revolution of said suction head being disposed above the said sucker at the time suction becomes effective to grip the sheet and means for moving said suction head to simultaneously raise, tilt and advance said sucker.

17. The method of separating paper sheets from the top of a pile, which comprises pneumatically iiuffing an edge portion of the upper sheets of the pile, thereby introducing air between adjacent sheets and elevating the same, gripping the top sheet by suction near said edge while it remains j thus elevatedand simultaneously forming in that 'space for the entry of additional air between the -top sheet and the next sheet of the'pile for'further 'separating the top sheet, and lifting the gripped corrugated portion of the top sheet to still further separate thesame from the next sheet.

18. The method of separating paper sheets from the top of a pile, which comprises pneumatically ilufng an edge portion of the upper sheets of the pile, thereby introducing air between adjacent sheets and elevating the same, gripping the top sheet by suction near said edge while it remains thus elevated, and Simultaneously forming in that sheet localized corrugations substantial-1y perpendicular to said edge, thereby providing space for the entry of additional air between the top sheet and the next sheet of the pile for further separating the top sheet, lifting the gripped corrugated portion oi the top sheet to still further separate the same from the next sheet, blowing air eneath said portion and advancing the sheet 'by movement of said portion.

19. A sheet separating device comprising a suction head, a pair of flexible suckers mounted therein and spaced apart a distance less than the width of one of them, and an abutment mounted in said head between said suckers arranged to contact and displace a portion of a sheet held by said suckers, thereby forming localized corrugatio-ns in the sheet.

20. A sheet separating suction device as deined in claim 1l, comprising means for applying a combined raising and tilting movement to the said sheet corrugating elements in a direction to form a curve in the sheet extending transversely to said corrugations.

21. The method of separating sheets lfrom the top of a supply, comprising gripping the top sheet by suction near an edge thereof, forming localized corrugaticns at an angle to said edge in the region of the gripped portion, and tilting the gripped portion to `form a curve in the sheet extending transversely to the direction of said corrugations,

22. A sheet separating suction device as defined in claim 11, comprising means for applying a combined raising and tilting movement to the said sheet corrugating elements in a direction to form -a curve in a gripped sheet extending transversely to said corrugations, and a body associated with said corrugating elements adapted to assist in forming said curve.

23. A sheet separating suction device as defined in claim 13, comprising a body revoluble with said suction head adapted to assist in curving a sheet when said head is revolved, the curve in the sheet extending transversely of said Vcorrugations.

24. A sheet separating suction device as defined in claim 19 comprising means for applying a combined raising and ytilting movement to said suckers and said abutment. in a direction to form a curve in a sheet extending transversely to said corrugations, and a body associated with said suckers and said abutment `adapted to assist in forming said curve. v

vCHARLES W. HARROLD. 

